Hello, everybody! Welcome to this week's review! In advance, I'd like to mention that my blog has been having some small technical errors. Yikes! I hope to fix them soon. Anyways, this week, I'm reviewing The Crystal Ribbon by Celeste Lim.

In the village of Huanan, in medieval China, the deity that rules is the Great Huli Jing. Though twelve-year-old Li Jing's name is a different character entirely from the Huli Jing, the sound is close enough to provide constant teasing-but maybe is also a source of greater destiny and power. Jing's life isn't easy. Her father is a poor tea farmer, and her family has come to the conclusion that in order for everyone to survive, Jing must be sacrificed for the common good. She is sold as a bride to the Koh family, where she will be the wife and nursemaid to their three-year-old son, Ju'nan. It's not fair, and Jing feels this bitterly, especially when she is treated poorly by the Koh's, and sold yet again into a worse situation that leads Jing to believe her only option is to run away, and find home again. With the help of a spider who weaves Jing a means to escape, and a nightingale who helps her find her way, Jing embarks on a quest back to Huanan--and to herself.

This book is a great book about Chinese culture. At the end of the book, the author mentions that she didn't want to make the book seem like a history book. Fortunately, I learned a lot about medieval China without realizing it. This book portrays how bad circumstances were for girls in China. Jing accepts that this is the world she lives in, but that doesn't stop her from trying to change her life for the better. I learned about the different types of gods and goddesses the Chinese believed in and some Chinese words.

I really liked the magic parts in the story. I liked seeing how the author portrayed different deities based on what they were in charge of. I think that The Crystal Ribbon has enough magical moments to satisfy a reader, but not too much to make it seem like an alternate universe.

Jing was a relatable character. She never fell into the pit of despair and decided that she was ready to give up. There were some times when she didn't seem to feel anything because she was so lost, but she always tries again. I think a great word for Jing is resilient. It was fun watching her grow as a naive girl to a steadfast young woman. Her feelings of insecurity change to feelings of assurance and understanding.

​ I also connected a lot with the characters. I could understand Jing's emotions and her difficulty choosing what she really wanted after meeting new friends. This made her more relatable because it showed that even a brave girl had weaknesses, that actually made her stronger. The characters appealed to me because they were weak in the face of adversary, but that didn't stop them from hoping. Even though Jing grows as a character, she didn't experience a breakthrough moment where she realizes truths about herself. I feel that even though she became a stronger person, her knowledge is gained by her tough experiences and that they weigh down on her. I think that The Crystal Ribbon would've benefited from a "breakthrough" because I think that it would've taught me a lot. There were lots of itty-bitty parts in the story would've made the story more meaningful. I think that I would've cared for the main character more and that I would have learned some more lessons.

The plot of this book felt very simple. There were a lot of conflicts, but I don't think that they were resolved very well. As Jing tries to get back home to her family after being sold as a bride, she leaves lots of characters behind. This bothered me, especially since I grew to care about some of the characters.

I think that this would be a great book for younger readers. Lots of fun information about history, a resilient character and a lot of emotions will engage and appeal to readers. A fun historical fiction book filled with magic!

A Chinese born and raised in Malaysia, Celeste currently lives in NYC with her Pomeranian, Hamlet, since completing her MFA in Creative Writing. Celeste writes mainly middle-grade and young adult fiction. As a reader, she is generally a sucker for books with lots of action and adventure, with a little bit of romance thrown in. She also dabbles in other forms of writing, such as poetry, picture books, fan fiction, blogging and musical script writing.

Celeste also considers herself a soft-core gamer; in her free time, she enjoys computer games like Final Fantasy and League of Legends. Although very much an amateur, she also loves oil and pastel painting, drawing fan art, OC commissions and doing illustrations of characters and scenes from her own stories. Celeste is an avid Disney fan and adores musical productions like My Fair Lady and The Sound of Music and secretly wishes to perform in a Broadway musical version of Mulan one day.

Taken from her website. Click the button below if you'd like to go to it!

Thanks, everybody, for joining me this week! Hope everybody's had a great start to April! I look forward to reading so many different books this month. Dream Magic by Joshua Khan, for example. As ever, MMGM is hosted by Shannon Messenger. If you'd like to read more reviews, click the link below!​Have a fantastic week!

Gracie has never felt like this before. One day, she suddenly can’t breathe, can’t walk, can’t anything—and the reason is standing right there in front of her, all tall and weirdly good-looking: A.J.

But it turns out A.J. likes not Gracie but Gracie’s beautiful best friend, Sienna. Obviously Gracie is happy for Sienna. Super happy! She helps Sienna compose the best texts, responding to A.J.’s surprisingly funny and appealing texts, just as if she were Sienna. Because Gracie is fine. Always! She’s had lots of practice being the sidekick, second-best.

It’s all good. Well, almost all. She’s trying.

Funny and tender, Well, That Was Awkward goes deep into the heart of middle school, and finds that even with all the heartbreak, there can be explosions of hope and moments of perfect happiness.

Gracie is an eighth grader who has fun with her friends. She isn't afraid to speak her mind and she acts like a teenager. She is a little rowdy sometimes but very fun. She doesn't really care much about boys until she realizes she has a crush on A.J. She tries not to freak out when he's around, but it's very awkward when she finds out that he has a crush on her best friend Sienna. Gracie sometimes feels a little jealous of Sienna. Sienna is selfless and athletic, and A.J. likes her. The story gets more tense as we find out that a character may have a crush on Gracie, but Gracie doesn't know how she feels about him.

Gracie is one of the most relatable characters I've read about in a while.I liked how Gracie was portrayed as a carefree teenager. She is a normal person who faces problems that everyone faces! While many books have relatable conflicts, I feel that Gracie actually solved them in credible ways. Gracie really didn't know how to solve the conflicts, so she kind of blundered through and hoped for the best option. I feel that many others will be able to relate to this. There were moments when you were flinching for her and then cheering. She has lots of flaws. She misbehaved sometimes, but it was a good balance between the funny and okay-with-the-world teenager and the mad teenager. There were definitely lots of self-recognition topics when Gracie realized truths about herself. Gracie tries to remind herself how blessed she is, but she feels a little excluded.

The voice reflects an American teenager so well. The texts with slang, abbreviations and emojis sound natural. They gossip and they text. Conversations between the characters include complaining about schoolwork and trying to break the ice in an uncomfortable situation. I loved listening to Gracie's way of thinking because I know lots of readers will relate to her. She feels overwhelmed, but also doesn't believe she has a right to feel a little lost. She beats herself up over doing bad things, but also learns from them. I like how the conversations between the characters often end in laughing and making jokes.

The romance is a huge part in Well, That Was Awkward. Lots of embarrassing moments in the characters' lives happen in front of people they like. The characters worried about saying the right thing to not seeming desperate while they were texting. I think the texting factor was very believable because lots of teenagers use phones to contact their friends. I thought it was cute that the girls were analyzing every response A.J. sent. It seemed a little far-fetched at times, but those moments lead to funny jokes that made me smile.

A lot of MG protagonists that deal with the romance factor often have other conflicts such as changing bodies, friendship and crush problems and realizing that the world they thought they lived in isn't perfect. At the end of the book, they accept it and move on. I don't find many books that involve the aftereffects of accepting this before delving into the YA world. Gracie acknowledges these things are going to be part of her life and she does her best to deal with them. She realizes that event though the shock is over, the struggles that arise from it are going to continue.

​ I felt a little confused because I didn't feel the main idea was wrapped up very well. I don't get how at one point all the characters are made at her, then all of a sudden they forgive her. And then it was laid out neatly for the rest of the book. It didn't click with me, and I was left bewildered. I think one part was cleared up neatly, but then there was other parts that just didn't seem relevant to the story. They were okay to read, but I was scratching my head a little.

Well, That Was Awkward is a wonderful middle grade story that clearly reflects the life of an American teenager. With a relatable protagonist, awkward situations and cute romance, I think it is a must-read for middle graders! ​Author bio:

Rachel Vail is the award-winning author of more than 30 books for young people, and she is very excited for the upcoming publication (February 28!) of her newest book for middle-schoolers, WELL, THAT WAS AWKWARD. Her novels for teens and tweens include UNFRIENDED, IF WE KISS, KISS ME AGAIN, LUCKY, GORGEOUS, BRILLIANT, and the Friendship Ring series. For elementary school kids, there’s JUSTIN CASE: School, Drool, and Other Daily Disasters; JUSTIN CASE: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom, and, JUSTIN CASE: Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully. Her picture books include PIGGY BUNNY and SOMETIMES I’M BOMBALOO. Rachel lives in New York City with her husband, their two sons, and a tortoise named Lightning.

Hi, everybody! Welcome to today's review! Hope you all had a great St. Patrick's Day. I'm reviewing In the Spotlight by Lindsey Leavitt and Robin Mellom. It came out less than a week ago, and I'm happy to review it! I previously reviewed the first book in the series,​​ The Pages Between Us. ​

BFFs Olivia and Piper star in this fun snapshot of middle grade friendship told in a sweet journal-style book packed with engaging art. This is a follow-up to The Pages Between Us, by beloved middle grade authors Lindsey Leavitt and Robin Mellom.

It's time for the Battle of the Books!

When no one from their school signs up for the annual competition, BFFs Piper (The Drama Lover) and Olivia (The Bookworm) decide to put their talents to good use by creating a video to get their classmates excited about the contest.

Only things don't go exactly as planned.

The video goes viral, thrusting Olivia into a spotlight she never wanted, while no one seems to remember that Piper wrote, produced and directed the video. And on top of everything, while their video motivated a lot of people to sign up to participate in the Battle of the Books, no one seems to have any interest in doing the reading.

​With the tournament approaching will Piper and Olivia be able to work together to save the day yet again?

Before you read this book, definitely read the first book. There were lots of little references back to the first book. You are expected to know every detail from the first book, and sometimes it gets a little overwhelming.

The first thing I liked about this story was the growth of the characters. In book #1, they started out as unsure middle graders who had issues with their family. Most of the family issues got resolved in that book. In In the Spotlight, I got to watch as the characters overcame their fears. Every little step does something to promote their confidence. I loved reading as they overcame challenges in their life, such as grades, boys and socializing. I learned about different ways to elevate my confidence, such as imagining best possible outcome. There were also lots of great quotes regarding this challenges that will help me. Sometimes the characters beat themselves up about a mistake, or wanted to quit. I think it will teach readers perseverance and an understanding of what we can do for others.

Olivia and Piper depended on each other to help them get through challenges and to help them understand and reflect what was going on. Piper would write something to Olivia, about something super urgent or awful or confusing, Olivia would respond with her opinions and thoughts, and then she would write something that needed attention...

All of the characters in this book are relatable, fun and creative. They're inventive and obsessed with lots of things. I really liked how the writing engaged the reader and made me feel a part of the story (letter-writing). I think the format of some of the writing (for example, screenplay) was hard to understand and confusing. I think lots of readers will enjoy it.

​ The boy drama is like... wow. It's cute and appropriate for middle school. The girls gawk at every single answer a boy gives them and try to break it down. I liked watching Olivia grow and learn how to better communicate with them. I think it would teach a lot of girls who struggle with the same thing (page 314 would help with that). There was a lot of drama. The person we've all expected to be perfect seems really flat, and the person who seemed obsessive about Olivia turns out to be pretty selfless and friendly. So, yeah... It was sweet, cute and it helped the characters' personalities grow.

There were some parts that seemed a little sketchy and hastily pulled together. For example, the possibilities of two different boys calling a girl in one night? In middle school​? I don't about everybody else, but that seemed a little... forward. And also unrealistic.

I also didn't like how the family issue was resolved. One of the characters was experiencing middle child syndrome, and they spend a lot of the book feeling excluded. Even though the authors tried to make it seem as if all was right, I felt put off because it seemed as if the family wanted to do the character's hobby for their own benefit.

I think that the possibilities of a video going viral on YouTube because it's meaningful and all that just doesn't seem credible. Every three minutes, two more people watched it! Amazing! But inside, I was kind of like, Really? And because of this, Olivia becomes popular. After Olivia becomes popular, she ends up talking to boys and achieving all the things she wanted to. It implied to me that you had to be popular in order to achieve your goals, which I don't think is the right message to send.​ In the Spotlight was a fun book that teaches a lot of good lessons and engages the reader by having a lot of relatable situations. It gets a seven out of ten. It was something I think would be a great beginning of the school year read. Something to make you smile and to take your nerves off the edge.

Author bio(s):

Lindsey Leavitt (right) is the author of over a dozen books for kids, tweens, and teens. She is a former elementary school teacher and present-day writer/mom/speaker/party animal (not to be confused with her spirit animal, which is a lion). A graduate of Brigham Young University, Lindsey uses her teaching background to present to hundreds of schools across the nation. Lindsey lives in a shoe with her many children in the Utah mountains.​ Robin Mellom (left) is the author of THE CLASSROOM, a middle grade series from Disney-Hyperion. She is also the author THE PAGES BETWEEN US, a middle grade series told in letters, co-written with Lindsey Leavitt, as well as the forthcoming three-book picture book series, HANNAH SPARKLES, both from HarperCollins. Coming in 2017 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is a new middle grade novel titled CONFESSIONS FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S KID. Robin has taught grades five through eight and has a master’s degree in education. She lives with her husband and son on the Central Coast of California.

​Taken from their websites. Click the buttons if you'd like to go to them!

Thanks for joining me this week for my review! Lots of good books coming out lately - I went to the bookstore and I saw books like Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly and Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull. Can't wait to read those. Hope your TBR list doesn't get too large!

For more MMGMs, go to the hostess Shannon Messenger's website. To read my review of The Pages Between Us, click on the button that has its title on it.

Hello, everybody! I hope everybody is having a great weekend! Today, I'm reviewing Every Falling Star ​by Sungju Lee.

Title: Every Falling Star: The True Story of How I Survived and Escaped North KoreaAuthor: Sungju LeeAge group: 12 - 16Page count: 336 pages_____________________________________________

Summary from Amazon:

Every Falling Star, the first book to portray contemporary North Korea to a young audience, is the intense memoir of a North Korean boy named Sungju who is forced at age twelve to live on the streets and fend for himself. To survive, Sungju creates a gang and lives by thieving, fighting, begging, and stealing rides on cargo trains. Sungju richly re-creates his scabrous story, depicting what it was like for a boy alone to create a new family with his gang, his "brothers"; to be hungry and to fear arrest, imprisonment and even execution. This riveting memoir allows young readers to learn about other cultures where freedoms they take for granted do not exist.

Every Falling Star is a powerful portrayal of North Korea. I think the cover suits it perfectly: it appeals to young readers, but also reflects what North Korea is like. It is a story about how a naive boy becomes exposed to the horrors of the world.

I really liked that this book told is meant for younger readers. Although it may be for younger readers, I would recommend it to readers who are more mature because it discusses some serious topics. I think it is smart to teach children about different cultures and about what others are experiencing.

The main reason I like this book is because it taught me a lot about all the blessings I have. I am blessed with food, a family who loves me, a house and so much more. It also helped me to better understand how fortunate we are to have the freedom of speech. As the summary says, it helped me understand that I shouldn't take it for granted. Writing this blog post is an example of freedom of speech because I am expressing my opinion about something. If I were not able to read book reviews, I would not be able to find as many good books. The lesson about freedom of speech made me think about all the things that are impacted because of what we say.

The story was so vivid. I could visualize all the settings and all the characters really well. The author portrayed how he and his brothers felt as they experience life in North Korea. It was very descriptive. I liked how the author didn't just say, "This happened and I remember this and..." There was lots of dialogue in the story, and this moved the story forward and helped me understand the characters' personalities. This made it more appealing for me because I felt like I was a part of the story.

The author didn't shy away from mentioning mature topics. He made it clear that lots of harsh things are common occurrences in North Korea. Every Falling Star was action-packed with fights, escaping and imprisonment which was even more harrowing because it is real. It hit the mark with me because it explained a lot of brutal things that happen daily around the world. I understood how bad life is in North Korea because the author stated what happened. He let me make my own decisions about what I was going to feel but showed me how he felt. The author mentioned that he could not reveal some things about his friends in North Korea because they could be punished.​ It's hard to learn truthful things about North Korea, and the author gave me useful insight about North Korea. Even though it shows the differences people have, it also showed me that we share lots of things. We all feel love, happiness, sorrow and we can help others. It was a powerful example of even though things may be awful, we can still cling onto hope.

Every Falling Star gets an eight out of ten for its powerful lessons and gripping story. It taught me a lot. I recommend this book to anyone who feels they can handle mature topics. It is astounding. When I finished reading it, I was in a daze. I promise you that even though you may not like Every Falling Star as much as I do, you will come away with a better understanding of hope and horror. This is a must-read!

Author bio:

Sungju Lee holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science and journalism from Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea. He received his master's degree in international relations at the University of Warwick, England. Lee has spoken about his experiences at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Stanford University and at the English, Canadian and South Korean parliaments. He has won many awards for his activism and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and in print media articles around the world. He participates in rescuing North Korean refugees suffering in China with Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR), based in South Korea.

Taken from the back of book. I couldn't find a website.

I hope everyone enjoyed this week's review! The cover for Nightfall recently came out and it is amazing. I cannot wait to read it! If you'd like to see it, click the link below that says MMGM and scroll down. Not only will that take you to read more reviews, you can also see the lovely cover!

​ On March 14th, Into the Spotlight by Lindsey Leavitt and Robin Mellom comes out. I look forward to reading it and I will review it once I get a copy!

Have a wonderful week! Get lots of rest because of Daylight Savings... And don't forget to read lots of books!

Welcome, everybody, to this week's review! The beginning of a new month - it's either going too slow or too fast. I reviewed the first book last year, and I really enjoyed it. Today I'm happy to review Day of Ice ​by Andrew Lane.

Months after their rescue by the government agency Segment W, Robinson Crusoe and his friend Friday have proven their skills as secret agents. They’re now climbing the ranks of this exclusive group of spies who reports directly to the Crown. Suddenly, in the dead of winter, Friday is shocked to see her father, who once tried to kill her, walking the streets of London. She tries to elicit the help of Segment W, but they are preoccupied with the continued investigation into an organization that staged a kidnapping of the king’s daughter. What will she do? As Friday’s past comes back to haunt her, she, Crusoe, and Daniel Defoe must uncover the mystical Circle of XIII’s sinister plans to recruit new members into the society using dangerous and magical means. How does her father fit into all of this? Will they be able to escape unscathed? Day of Ice is the second installment of a series that thrusts a young Robinson Crusoe into a new world of espionage, intrigue, and peril.

It's weird, because Amazon says this book isn't due for publication until August. It's thin compared to other MG books, but it's written in very small type. Please look at the age group: there were some topics that are meant for more mature readers.

I love how the author combined the story of a tropical island with 17th century London. We learn a lot about the characteristics of both settings. I don't like it at all when it seems as if we are being lectured about elements of the story. Fortunately, this was not the case in Day of Ice. The settings were well-described through the characters' eyes. I learned a lot through subtle explanations that often lead to a big picture. There was one setting which I did not like. It felt flat and creeped me out, and I did not like the scenes that were set there. However, I understand that was probably the author's intention.

​ There was a lot of action in this book. There are chases, thwarted escapes, brutal murders... This action ties in with the mystery, which made it a roller-coaster ride for me. I was waiting for either an answer or a character to be caught in every chapter. Sadly, I didn't enjoy it very much. I felt expectant the whole time, but was disappointed because I was not interested in what was going on.

The characters of Friday and Crusoe were both really well-developed. They were strong and capable characters who believed in themselves and what they could do. They knew they had endured trials before and that they could brave them again. They trusted each other a lot. I liked how I was able to see through Friday's POV more than the last book. The 'bond' between them felt really eerie. They knew what the other was planning, what they were thinking, what they felt... All because they had spent so much time together on a tropical island. This had key moments in the story, but it did not feel realistic. This leads me to the romance. It was sweet. However, all they seemed to do was think how pretty/handsome the other was and how much they cared for them. I was really put off-slash-disgusted.

I'm sorry to say I don't feel that Day of Ice lived up to Dawn of Spies' high standard. It was a good book, and I wouldn't be reviewing it if there wasn't a little something that appealed to me. Okay, just not for me. I give Day of Ice a seven out of ten for its strong characters and action.

Author bio:

Andrew Lane is the author of the Young Sherlock Holmes series of young adult novels, starting with DEATH CLOUD. He has also written numerous spin-off novels based on the BBC sci-fi television series "Doctor Who," as well as definitive guides to "Babylon 5" and the Wallace and Grommit films, and is the author of THE BOND FILES: An Unofficial Guide to the World's Greatest Secret Agent. He lives in Dorset, England.

Taken from his website, and if you'd like to access, click the button!

Thank you for joining me this week for my review. I'm so excited to say that The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein will be published in May! This is a prequel to Code Name Verity, one of my favorite YA books.

If you'd like to read more MMGMs, Greg Pattridge has provided all the links this week. If you'd like to read those and read his review, click the link below.

Hello, everybody! Welcome to today's interview with Henry H. Neff. He is the author of Impyrium, which I reviewed last week on JustinTalksBooks. If you'd like to read the review, click the button below. I loved Impyrium, so I'm really excited for the interview. Before we begin, we'll learn a little bit about the author.

Henry H. Neff grew up outside Chicago before going off to Cornell University where he majored in history. He began his professional career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company before leaving the corporate life to teach at a San Francisco high school and write fantasy novels.His first series, “The Tapestry”, is a five-volume epic that follows the life and adventures of Max McDaniels. Its books have been translated into nineteen languages and were finalists for the Texas Bluebonnet, Missouri Truman Award, and Northern California Book of the Year.Impyrium is Henry’s second series. You’ll find him working away in Montclair, New Jersey, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Q: What inspired you to write IMPYRIUM?A: IMPYRIUM's story and lore is built upon a foundation I created in my first series, The Tapestry. When I'd completed The Tapestry, I was happy with how I'd wrapped up the story of its hero, Max McDaniels, but I was curious how the world might change and evolve in the aftermath of its events. As a former history teacher I'm interested in how civilizations change over time and the life cycle of empires. These are central themes in IMPYRIUM where issues of power, class, and justice rise to the forefront.

Q: How did you get published?A: It was fairly straightforward. I wrote a manuscript for my first novel, The Hound of Rowan, and pitched it as the first book in a fantasy trilogy. A publisher made an offer and The Tapestry was born. In retrospect, I was forunate that my manuscript got in front of the right people at the right time. While I tend to think that talented writers will get published eventually, there's a great deal of luck and timing involved with any particular project.

Q: What was your favorite subject in school?A: History. Knowing a bit of history gives one perspective and a fascinating lens through which to view the world.

Q: What's your favorite book and why?A: I have too many to name, and often depend on my favorites to satisfy a particular craving or mood. Some that pop to mind include Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Moby Dick, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, John Dos Passos's USA, Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea stories, The Wind in the Willows, Watership Down, Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, and Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising and The Grey King.

Q: Who is your favorite character in IMPYRIUM and why?A: Probably Hazel Faeregine, one of the two protagonists and the overlooked "ugly duckling" of the royal family. She begins the story as a naive little girl and really comes into her own as the story unfolds. It sounds strange, but I'm proud of Hazel's courage, integrity, and compassion in the face of some pretty daunting challenges.Q: What advice do you have for people who want to become published writers?A: To be professional, positive, and persistent. Those traits will serve you well in any field, but I think they're absolutely essential in the publishing world. Many people want to publish a book; few have the professionalism, positive attitude, and persistence to complete their stories and navigate the inevitable challenges and pitfalls that come with trying to get published. It's a tough and fickle industry, but I'm always willing to bet on those who can maintain a positive attitude while they refine their craft and keep at it. Those who can't are in for a tough ride.

Q: What do you think of the cover of IMPYRIUM?A: I love it! The artist's name is Antonio Caparo. He did a fantastic job of creating an iconic image that works at a distance but also rewards closer viewing with all the cool little details and monsters on the vault door. I'm really pleased with it.

Q: Did someone or something inspire you while you were writing IMPYRIUM?A: I find inspiration from all sorts of places — current events, favorite books and myths, even my children. I think most writers have a little corner of their brain that's constantly observing the world around them and stashing things away for future stories.

Thank you, Mr. Neff, for joining us today! Hope everybody enjoyed the interview. On Sunday, I am posting a review of Day of Ice by Andrew Lane.

Welcome, everybody! Today I'm interviewing Jennifer A. Nielsen, author of the Ascendance Trilogy and the Mark of the Thief trilogy. I have reviewed two of her books: A Night Divided and Wrath of the Storm. If you'd like to read them, click the links below.

Jennifer’s debut book was ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR (Sourcebooks, Oct 2010). That series became known as The Underworld Chronicles. The next series she released was The Ascendance trilogy, beginning with THE FALSE PRINCE (Scholastic, Apr 2012). She wrote the sixth book of the Infinity Ring series, BEHIND ENEMY LINES (Scholastic, Nov 2013). Her current series is MARK OF THE THIEF (Scholastic, Feb 2015), with the final book of the trilogy coming in January 2017. She recently released her first historical, A NIGHT DIVIDED (Scholastic, Aug 2015). Her next book will be a standalone fantasy adventure, THE SCOURGE (Scholastic, Aug 2016).

This was taken from her website. To access it, click the button below.

The story began with me stumbling on an unusual fact about Ancient Rome - the empire Julius Caesar used to claim that he had descended from the Gods. It was done to make him seem more powerful, more worthy of the throne, but I got to thinking, “What if Caesar was telling the truth?” That would have made him a demigod. And what if his magic was lost after his assassination, only to be discovered decades later by a boy from the lowest rungs of Roman society, a mining slave?

How did you get published?

It started with me being a terrible writer, then as I continued to work, eventually I was just awful, then bad, then I was all right. Eventually, I wrote a story that got me an agent, and then it got me a publisher. Honestly, I had a long and difficult journey toward publication, one filled with many ups and downs, but I am proof that with enough hard work and tenacity, anyone can get published.

What was your favorite subject in class?

My three favorites were theater, speech, and history, and in hindsight, all three have served me well. The theater taught me to understand character and the importance of a three-act structure. Speech taught me the power of language and how to present myself to others. History taught me about the greatest stories throughout time, and how to use their lessons for both my real stories, and as fuel for my fantasy stories.

What's your favorite book?

Hard to choose! I think my all-time favorite book is probably HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, not only because its an incredible achievement in literature, but also because JK Rowling did it while under so much pressure from an international audience of readers.

Who is your favorite character in Wrath of the Storm?

Ooh - that’s so difficult. I admire Aurelia for her strength, Crispus for his loyalty, Radulf for the courage to change, and Livia for retaining her kindness amidst so many difficulties. However, I have a lot of love for Nic, who grows so much during the series and finds himself in so many wonderful ways.

I'd like to thank Mrs. Nielsen for joining us today! I wish everyone a wonderful week. I have an interview with Henry H. Neff coming up on Friday, and a review of Day of Ice by Andrew Lane on Sunday. Be sure to check those out!

Hello, everybody! I am hosting Justin from JustinTalksBooks today for MMGM. He is reviewing Spy School ​by Stuart Gibbs.

And here is Justin!

Summary: Benjamin Ripley, a 12 year old living your average middle school life is being recruited for a science academy, secretly a spy school. Oh it's just another typical recruitment with a top-notch spy appearing in your living room after a long day of school. Ben has a "cryptography" skill and even though he bombs his SACSA's (basically a pre-assesement in self-preservation) he's kept in the school because of his "talent" for cryptography. Along the way he meets Erica Hale- the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, the best student in spy school's history, and a legacy (she's even related to all time spy legend Nathan Hale) But the introverted isolated Erica reaches out to Ben and reveals he has no skill whatsoever. Instead, he's being used as bait for something called Operation Creeping Badger, a plan created by the CIA to weed out the mole in Spy School. Ben decides to hop on the train for one main reason: getting to spend time with Erica. I mean for three years she's practically been lonelier than a rock on a deserted island and now she reaches out to a nerd like Ben? Not only does it bring us his coolness by a mile, but spending time with your crush is the best feeling ever. But is it worth if it you end up being dead? Follow Stuart Gibbs's fantastic thriller through elaborate plans, midnight escapes, and lots of gun fighting as Ben and friends try to answer the question: Who's the mole? Oh and try to not get killed in the process.

What I liked: Everything? But seriously, it's just a well-written book. Humorous moments were weaved well into the diverse book. Lots of actions scenes, which of course you'd expect from a James Bond-esque book. I definitely liked the inclusion of a legacy in a book. I mean if you think about it any time you read about a private school there's always someone "who's great grand-father was the founder" or something like that. Not only is Erica's deceased relatives the founders of the school, but the country in general has been at the mercy of their family. I could talk for about 10 pages of how this book is awesome, but I feel like there wouldn't be any point to it.

What I didn't like: Let me just start out with saying: the cursing. Yes, there are bad words in this novel, but keep in mind this: I talked to the author himself and he said that he only stuck in the various language because it could give some character to the book, to spice things up. He was advised to do so by somebody (an editor I think?) and so he did and he received a million hate comments for it. He's removed all bad language from the rest of his books (unless you consider "stupid" "dumb" and "idiot" bad words) Another thing I didn't like was the classic format for all middle grade books. While it varies, in MG if we're talking about a kid and school it's always: There's a loser at blah blah school. Suddenly he catches a break and he talks to his crush. For half the book everything is really awesome with only minor flaws. Then there's a huge conflict at the end. The ending is either "YAY! We made it!" or "Aw, we lost" I feel like I could explain the plot of this book at a general level using the normal MG format, and while it's not bad, it's just overused.

Final Thoughts: A really, really, really great book with some minor flaws but nothing enough to make it bad.

Rating on 'the scale': 9.5 out of ten

Why? Minor flaws but nothing major. Really a great books that keeps things exciting and fresh.

Related: Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs / Playing w/ Fire series by Bruce Hale / Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead

I'd like to thank Justin for joining us today! If you'd like to go to his website, click the button below. I reviewed Impyrium by Henry H. Neff on JustinTalksBooks as well. If you'd like to read that review, click on the second button. ​On Wednesday, March 1st, I will be posting an interview with Jennifer A. Nielsen, author of Wrath of the Storm. On Friday, March 3rd, I will post an interview with Henry H. Neff, author of Impyrium​. Next week for MMGM, I will be reviewing Day of Ice ​by Andrew Lane.

For more MMGMs, just click the link below to access Shannon Messenger's website.

Happy Presidents' Day! I hope everybody is enjoying their break from school. It's the perfect time to read some books! I picked up Saturdays at Sea by Jessica Day George, and that's the book I will be reviewing today.

Jessica Day George's magical bestselling series comes to a rousing conclusion as Celie and her family set sea on a grand ship made in the likeness of their beloved Castle!​There is never a dull moment for Celie and her family in Castle Glower--even when they're not in the Castle itself! After traveling to the seaside kingdom of Lilah's betrothed prince, Lulath, Celie and her companions are busy training griffins, enjoying wedding festivities, and finishing construction of a grand ship built from parts of the Castle. But on their maiden voyage, the Ship steers them far off course into uncharted waters. Celie and Lilah hope that the Ship is taking them to the ancient island where unicorns once roamed, but as the journey grows longer and supplies run low, they are in trouble. Celie, Lilah, and Rolf know they must trust the Ship as they trust the Castle, but what if they never reach land again?

It was fun returning to Celie and her family! This book is fifth in the Castle Glower series. It will be confusing if you haven't read the previous books in the series, and I would recommend reading them.

The characters face relatable conflicts. When they run out of supplies, they think their way through the problem and are resourceful. They aren't afraid to use magic, which some people are afraid of. They worked together as a family and cared about each other.

The building of the Ship was fun for me, because they believed what they were doing was right. They wanted it a certain way, and would go to great lengths to achieve it.

Another thing I really liked was that the characters wanted peace. They wanted to discover what was wrong, what they could do to make it better and how to resolve things.

​ I think the entire series will be a fun read for elementary school children. However, from my point of view, it seemed a little off. I missed Castle Glower, just like all the characters. The Ship tried to make up for it, but I didn't feel like I could connect with it.

Compared to the other books, this book is boring. There is plenty of action and adventure to satisfy young readers, but the plot was boring to me. They were on a ship, had no idea where they were heading, and were running out of supplies. All they seem to do is worry and make plans that become foiled. When something exciting happens, the characters seem to find the negative side in everything. I could not relate to the characters because of that. Saturdays at Sea does not live up to the high standard the rest of the series set.

Although Celie was a relatable, fun and optimistic character who had faith in the future, sometimes she seemed like a whiny child. She complains about feeling excluded. She feels that she is only wanted when something is wrong with the Ship. I understand how she feels, but I don't think it gives her a good motive to act like that. Her attitude towards being excluded put me off the rest of the story. I feel that I could've accepted her behavior more if the author made it seem like she actually was being excluded. She seemed to be involved all the time.

One final thing that distracted me from enjoying the story was the romance. Celie is teased multiple times about liking somebody, and there are a lot of hints. However, the author fails to wrap that romance up. I feel that the final book in the Castle Glower series should put that foot forward.

There were so many little things that didn't get resolved, and I'm disappointed with that.

I'm giving Saturdays at Sea a six out of ten. It was a great book. I know lots of people will enjoy it, but I don't think it's the one for me. I really wanted to like it, and I'm sad I didn't enjoy it that much. However, I look forward to other books that Jessica Day George will publish!

Author bio:

JESSICA DAY GEORGE is the New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays at the Castle, Wednesdays in the Tower, Thursdays with the Crown, Fridays with the Wizards, and Saturdays at Sea, as well as the Twelve Dancing Princesses series and the Dragon Slippers trilogy. Originally from Idaho, she studied at Brigham Young University and worked as a librarian and bookseller before turning to writing full-time. She now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their three young children. Her favorite day of the week is Friday because often there is pizza for dinner.

Enjoy your winter break, everyone! Have a great week! Some interesting books that I need to read: Secret Origins by James Riley (it's in my library bag - I just need to read it) and ​Impyrium by Henry H. Neff.

Have fun! For more book reviews, click the link below to go to Shannon Messenger's website.

Trouble has a way of seeking out Nicolas Calva, and it's not likely to leave him alone any time soon. With Caesar's magic bulla, the Malice of Mars, and the possibility of a Jupiter Stone in play, all the powers of Rome are circling Nic. He'll have to maneuver his way through scheming government officials and reawakened magical beasts to save the Empire. Can he manage to keep his friends and family safe, claim his own freedom once and for all, and rescue the Empire -- before the magic gets the better of him?

With twists and turns on every page, critically acclaimed author Jennifer Nielsen weaves an epic, action-packed conclusion to her extraordinary Mark of the Thief trilogy.

Wrath of the Storm is the final book in the Mark of the Thief trilogy. I would only recommend this book if you've read the previous books in the series, ​Mark of the Thief and Rise of the Wolf. Otherwise, it might be a little confusing.

Since this was the last book in the series, it is where there is the most action. The story begins with action, then it calms down, action again, calms down, and this sequence repeats itself over and over again. There is a lot of action in this book. The reason I felt there was a lot of it because the protagonist, Nic, is on the run. He uses magic to defend himself. Often, because of the "scheming government officials", he creates a lot of destruction with the magic. The action was really strong and it was a big factor in the book. It was fantastic.

​Nic often survives because of pure luck, and that felt a little off to me.

The government officials definitely were a nuisance to Nic, and to me too. It seemed they were everywhere. They were constantly foiling the protagonist's plans. I wondered how many times it would take before something good would happen to the protagonist. There was a sacrifice involved in every decision. I like how the author made it so that there was always a conflict. This kept the plot moving. However, at some points, I felt a little confused.

The romance was so strong. It was very important in this book. They deeply cared about each other. They were a lot of moments where there was a lack of communication about how they felt about each other, and that added a lot of suspense. They both knew that they couldn't have each other, which made it even more romantic.It provided some good insights about love. The author showed that love wasn't wishy-washy. There was a great comparison in the book between Diana and Venus. Diana was angry because she felt that nobody cared about her, and because Venus was getting more attention. The protagonist said that she took things away and caused harm as goddess of the hunt, while the goddess of love strengthened bonds.

The friendship between the characters was really powerful. There is a great line in the book that shows this. "...not only had they forgiven me, they had continued standing at my side." (pg. 286)Even though the characters argue, they sacrifice so many things in their lives to help their friends. Nic risks his life multiple times to save his friends. Wrath of the Storm is a great book that shows the power of friendship.

The setting in Ancient Rome was important in the book, but the first book in the series communicated it a bit more. The author assumed we had read the previous books, so she didn't go into much detail about the settings. This is because they were almost always settings we had seen before. However, I love them. I like them because the settings were very elaborate. My favorite settings are when there are beautiful mosaics.

Wrath of the Storm teaches the reader a lot about Roman mythology. Information about gods and goddesses are important in the story, so it didn't feel like the author was trying to lecture me.

Wrath of the Storm by Jennifer A. Nielsen gets a seven out of ten! It is action-packed and teaches us about Ancient Rome. It has good romance and strong friendships.

​Author bio:

Jennifer’s debut book was ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR (Sourcebooks, Oct 2010). That series became known as The Underworld Chronicles. The next series she released was The Ascendance trilogy, beginning with THE FALSE PRINCE (Scholastic, Apr 2012). She wrote the sixth book of the Infinity Ring series, BEHIND ENEMY LINES (Scholastic, Nov 2013). Her current series is MARK OF THE THIEF (Scholastic, Feb 2015), with the final book of the trilogy coming in January 2017. She recently released her first historical, A NIGHT DIVIDED (Scholastic, Aug 2015). Her next book will be a standalone fantasy adventure, THE SCOURGE (Scholastic, Aug 2016).